THE genteel game of bowls is set to go smoke-free after the sport's governing body threatened to penalise players who sneak a crafty drag on the green.

More than 100 bowling clubs around Greater Manchester are to outlaw smoking after a meeting of officials of the British Crown Green Association in Cheshire.

To make sure that members enforce the new ban, chief executive John Crowther has added an even bigger deterrent to smokers - if they pinch a quick puff at any time during the game, their score for their last end will be deducted and instead their opponents will get a top score.

The controversial ban passed by a vote of the association's management committee at Winnington Park in Northwich is to be enforced from March at every club, from county grounds to village greens.

Mr Crowther said: "We felt smoking did not tie in with the healthy lifestyle image of the game. At the moment, it happens quite a lot at lower-level games, but we feel that nationally smoking should not be part of the game.

"It will be up to individuals to police the ban, but I think that it won't be a problem as it will be a law of the game like any other."

Andrew Tann, secretary of Greater Manchester Parks, said: "Now that it is a law of the game, it's up to referees to enforce it at county games and finals days.

"But it's going to be difficult to apply in club games where there are no referees."